eBeam IWB is an innovative portable affordable and scalable interactive whiteboard solution (IWB). eBeam provides all of the standard IWB features while adding additional features and functions such as Shared Whiteboards over IP, handwriting recognition and cross-platform compatibility. The highlight of eBeam is it's ability to transform almost any smooth surface, including existing whiteboards, into an interactive workspace through the eBeam Pod (Figure 1)

eBeam IWB comes in several different varieties, allowing complete portability through the eBeam Pod, a mobile IWB through eBeam Mobile and a fixed IWB through the eBeam Board. Each of these products utilise the eBeam Pod, a revolutionary receiver that runs complex algorithms based around calculating the time difference between speed of sound and speed of light (Figure 2). The eBeam Pod connects to a host computer via either USB or wireless connectivity through Bluetooth.

The eBeam software suite contains two programs:

• eBeam Interact (Projection) - for use with a data projector and;
• eBeam Capture (Whiteboard) - for use with a whiteboard and dry-erase markers

eBeam Interact (Projection) is utilised in combination with a data projector, allowing a user to control the connected computer from the board. The interactive stylus (Figure 3) acts as a mouse pointer against the board and the interactive whiteboard functions are all available in the innovative tool palette (Figure 5). Annotations are made in digital ink and saved in a variety of digital formats (e.g. PowerPoint, JPEG). Once the projection image is turned off there are no marks left on the whiteboard surface.

eBeam Capture (Whiteboard) does not require a data projector - using dry-erase markers within the eBeam pen sleeves (Figure 4), any information drawn onto the whiteboard is captured directly into the host computer. The eBeam Shortcut Strip (Figure 6) allows users to create new digital pages when the whiteboard is full so no information is lost. The Shortcut Strip also allows users to print directly from the board to their default printer.

For the users who require both projection and whiteboard functionality, the two applications are combined in the eBeam Complete package. Both software verions have Shared Whiteboard over IP functionality, which is cross-platform compatible. Even without the hardware, users can participate in a whiteboard session by downloading the free eBeam software.